June 16 2014

Mile Jedinak

Crystal Palace's Mile Jedinak says his hardened upbringing in Australia helped develop the mental strength to succeed as a top footballer.

Jedinak grew up in a tough working-class suburb of Rooty Hill, in Blacktown City, which is around 45km outside Sydney.

His Croatian-born parents, who came to the country as children, helped instil a strong work ethic and family values for their children as the family looked to better themselves.

That character building helped Jedinak as he managed to make the break to get out of the Australian lower leagues to a national club before a move to Turkey where he spent three years.

Then-Championship side Palace came calling and he went on to become one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League last season. Now he's captaining Australia at a World Cup finals.

"Mum and Dad worked pretty hard," he said. "They probably did have it a bit tough, but I wouldn’t say it was extreme.

"The thing is, what they gained they worked very hard to get. It didn’t come easy and I guess a lot of my upbringing was based on working for what you can get.

"I look back and I can say having those values growing up is something I am hugely proud of and hugely grateful to my parents for the way they brought me up.

"I think had I not gone through what I did growing up then maybe I wouldn’t have been able to cope with the early disappointments as a player (in Australia).

"I was mentally tough and I was determined. I knew that would push me and get me through."

He now follows Peter Wilson (1974), Mark Viduka (2006) and Lucas Neill (2010) as skipper of the Socceroos at the World Cup.

"What can I say? Things like this don’t come around every day," he said. "It’s humbling. To join the likes of the other guys to do it at a World Cup is very, very special.

"But, you know, I am only part of the team. We’re all in this together. There’s a great leadership core in the squad with Timmy (Cahill) and Bresh (Mark Bresciano). We all have our different qualities that will benefit the team."

Jedinak's Australia face the Netherlands in their second group game on Wednesday after losing their opener against Chile 3-1.